That's just back to '92. Several of those players are still playing or are just recently retired, so you get an idea of the impact over an entire career, rather than just the first 5 years on average that your sample pulls from.

And that ignores the entire "team" factor that is so important in sports. Bad management or even just bad luck can doom a very skilled player to no championships or finals appearances. Just look at the Nash-led Suns. Or Stockton and Malone.

I was just about to post the rest of the names from 1961-up, but you seemed to have covered from 1992-2002, so I thank you DanH. One name that wasn't there though was Glenn Robinson 1st overall 1994 draft, won with the Spurs in his last season in 2005.

seriously, how good do you think amir and demar are right now? Amir averages 12/7/1 and demar is a high volume shooter that shoots 43%.

They're both solid starters to be sure, and either could be a 3rd or 4th option on a good team (maybe not demar, he's more of a 6th man on a good team), but come on. This draft projects to be as good as the '06 draft, and look back and see how many player from that draft you'd like to have on our team now (and please, count oden too - injuries can happen to anyone, anytime).

From every draft class that I and DanH listed, there were only 8 draft classes whereby none of the top three picks made it to the playoffs. Those being 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1986, 1998, 1999, 2002. The ones that griffthecat listed that didn't have at least one of the top 3 picks make it to the finals were 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012. By the looks of this season because the east is so shitty the Cavs and the Wizards could get in which would cover Anthony Bennett and Otto Porter Jr. That's only a total of 14 years (not including 2013 draft) out of 63 (since 1949 draft) that none of the top 3 picks made it to the finals.

There is no definitive guarantee for a championship, but you don't have to be a genius to know when you're put in a good position to win one. A top pick WITH a good scouting staff is that best chance. No one is disregarding stars being made from later picks but you're just making it harder for yourself for no good reason.

Would not want with 1-3 in bold (some years that was the best there was but you get the point).

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Diamond Scorpion

I was just about to post the rest of the names from 1961-up, but you seemed to have covered from 1992-2002, so I thank you DanH. One name that wasn't there though was Glenn Robinson 1st overall 1994 draft, won with the Spurs in his last season in 2005.

I'll just throw out some more names before 1992:

1991 Larry Johnson - 1

1990
Gary Payton - 3, Derrick Coleman - 1

1989 Sean Elliott - 2, Danny Ferry - 1

1988Rik Smits - 1, Charles Smith - 1

1987
David Robinson - 1, Dennis Hopson - 1

1985
Patrick Ewing - 2

1984
Hakeem Olajuwon - 2, Michael Jordan - 6

1983 Rodney McCray - 1, Ralph Sampson - 1

1982
James Worthy - 8

1981Buck Williams - 1, Isiah Thomas - 3, Mark Aguirre - 3

1980
Kevin McHale - 5,

1979
Magic Johnson - 9, David Greenwood - 1, Bill Cartwright - 3

1978Rick Robey - 1, Mychal Thompson - 2

Then I gave up due to age, some obviously would want.
1973
Jim Brewer - 1, Doug Collins - 2

I really hate when people bring up past drafts and say "that happened for them, it'll happen for us." Its a different situation, this draft is a once in a decade type draft. Are we better off going to the playoffs/finals with a superstar from the draft, or DeRozan? Give me a break, everybody damn well knows we aren't getting into the finals EVER unless we build through the draft or sign superstar talent (which we won't).

I really hate when people bring up past drafts and say "that happened for them, it'll happen for us." Its a different situation, this draft is a once in a decade type draft. Are we better off going to the playoffs/finals with a superstar from the draft, or DeRozan? Give me a break, everybody damn well knows we aren't getting into the finals EVER unless we build through the draft or sign superstar talent (which we won't).

Well said. I think some people are just content with the raps winning 1 round ala the Atlanta Hawks.

I really hate when people bring up past drafts and say "that happened for them, it'll happen for us." Its a different situation, this draft is a once in a decade type draft. Are we better off going to the playoffs/finals with a superstar from the draft, or DeRozan? Give me a break, everybody damn well knows we aren't getting into the finals EVER unless we build through the draft or sign superstar talent (which we won't).

SAC thought the same thing once upon a time.... so did IND in the years after Reggie.... so did DAL....

SAC thought the same thing once upon a time.... so did IND in the years after Reggie.... so did DAL....

Is it so difficult to believe that we could duplicate their success?

Dallas had Nowitzki (drafted) and had an owner where money was an afterthought. . SAC didn't reach the finals so... Indy while not "tanking" per se - still have cornerstones which were drafted - George, Hibbert, Stephenson and their finances were and are in much better states than the Raps'.

Dallas had Nowitzki (drafted) and had an owner where money was an afterthought. . SAC didn't reach the finals so... Indy while not "tanking" per se - still have cornerstones which were drafted - George, Hibbert, Stephenson and their finances were and are in much better states than the Raps'.

I'm not saying that they didn't accumulate some talent through the draft.... What I was trying to point out was that those teams didn't acquire that talent with high picks.

And SAC should have reached the Finals... if not for being screwed by the refs against the Lakers.